2018 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Gevrey-Chambertin 750ml

Overview

Known at the domaine as “Cuvée Bertin”, this Gevrey-Chambertin is a finely structured Côte de Nuits Pinot Noir combining ripe red fruit, freshness and the firm mineral character associated with Gevrey. The 2018 vintage was warm, yet careful yield control and gentle extraction helped preserve energy, detail and clear terroir expression.

Vineyard

The cuvée is assembled from Gevrey-Chambertin village sites including Les Seuvrées, Les Murots and Creux-Brouillard. For the 2018 vintage, the wine was sourced principally from a 0.53-hectare parcel in Les Seuvrées planted in 1969, close to Charmes-Chambertin and the Morey-Saint-Denis boundary.

Vintage & Winemaking

Virgile Lignier described 2018 as a warm growing season that required strict yield control. Fruit was harvested by hand and vinified gently, with a very high proportion of whole bunches. Cuvée Bertin is vinified with 100% whole bunches according to the domaine.

Domaine Lignier-Michelot generally favours gentle extraction, low additions of sulphur and maturation in air-dried barrels, with new oak kept to moderate levels. The vineyards are farmed according to organic principles, although the domaine is not certified organic.

Critic Reviews

89–91 points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“Ripe strawberries and red cherry on the nose… crunchy red berry fruit laced with tea leaves and bay leaf.”
Reviewed January 2020

88–91 points – Burghound
“Highly energetic and well-detailed flavors exude a subtle salinity… shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins.”
Reviewed January 2020

Producer

Domaine Lignier-Michelot is based in Morey-Saint-Denis in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits and is led by winemaker Virgile Lignier. The Lignier family has owned vines and lived in Morey-Saint-Denis for generations, with holdings extending into Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

The domaine farms approximately 10.5 hectares, including Grand Cru holdings in Clos de la Roche and Clos Saint-Denis. Viticulture is practised organically without certification, while the cellar approach emphasises hand harvesting, substantial whole-bunch fermentation and gentle extraction.

Specifications

• Vintage: 2018
• Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Subregion: Côte de Nuits
• Appellation: Gevrey-Chambertin
• Classification: Village
• Cuvée: Bertin
• Vineyard Sources: Les Seuvrées, Les Murots and Creux-Brouillard
• Whole Bunch: 100%
• Viticulture: Practising organic, not certified
• Production: Approximately 200 dozen bottles for the 2018 vintage